The Forestry Forum is an online cultural phenomenon. It may not look like much, but it is one of the most popular forums online on forestry-related issues. It matters because it helps connect people on the biggest issues of our generation.
What is forestry?
As climate change and environmental degradation become of concern, there is growing interest in how to manage forests.1 If you need help identifying trees, or want to grow or manage them, the Forestry Forum website offers that space.
But, forestry is more than that. Woodlands cover more land in the UK (13 per cent)2 than land used for urban development (6 per cent). In the US, it matters even more: forests cover over 36 per cent of its land3. In the UK, most forests are sustainable, as for every tree cut down, one is planted, according to the University of Cumbria4. Therefore, knowledge of forestry is not just important in a commercial environment, but for recreation, culture and rural livelihoods too.
We cannot survive without protecting our forests and nature. They store and soak up carbon, provide homes and livelihoods to billions of people, supply fertile soil and water, and act as natural shields against diseases.5 Deforestation can devastate our food supplies, health and climate.6
The importance of having a forestry forum
Discussions on these issues are essential because they have real-life consequences. They help us to learn about our local environment and receive help. They can also help us to better contribute towards it.
For example, the Africa Forest Forum gives a voice to stakeholders concerned about the rich heritage of forests all over the continent.7 It also uses science, indigenous knowledge and experience to advocate for the relevance of forests and trees to our livelihoods and the national economy.
Examples of forestry forums around the world
The African Forest Forum is just one such organisation. The European Union also has a Forum on Urban Forestry (EFUF) that focuses on how to manage them in more developed areas.8
These forums and events bring people together and exchange knowledge on a vital topic. After all, we should all know more about the environment around us, shouldn’t we?
Sources
- www.fao.org. (n.d.). Natural Forest Management. [online] Available at: http://www.fao.org/forestry/sfm/85084/en/.
- Reality Check: Are millions of trees being planted? (2017). BBC News. [online] 26 Oct. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-41551296
- Forest Inventory and Analysis: Fiscal Year 2016 Business Report (2016). USDA. [online] Aug 2017. Available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/fs_media/fs_document/publication-15817-usda-forest-service-fia-annual-report-508.pdf
- www.cumbria.ac.uk. (n.d.). What is Forestry? [online] Available at: https://www.cumbria.ac.uk/blog/articles/what-is-forestry.php.
- IUCN. (2018). Forests and climate change. [online] Available at: https://www.iucn.org/resources/issues-briefs/forests-and-climate-change.
- WWF. (2019). The Effects of Deforestation. [online] Available at: https://www.wwf.org.uk/learn/effects-of/deforestation.
- African Forest Forum. (n.d.). Welcome to the African Forest Forum. [online] Available at: https://afforum.org [Accessed 27 Jan. 2021].
- European Forum on Urban Forestry (EFUF). (n.d.). European Forum on Urban Forestry (EFUF). [online] Available at: https://efuforg.wordpress.com [Accessed 27 Jan. 2021].